The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment

The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly and before that the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC, as HRC/RES/48/13), that recognizes a healthy environment as a human right.[1][2] It was adopted at the 48th session of the HRC, marking the first time that the HRC recognized a human right in a resolution.[3][4] The draft resolution was put forward by the core group comprising Costa Rica (Penholder), Morocco, Slovenia, Switzerland and the Maldives.[5] The vote passed with 43 votes in favor, 0 votes against, and 4 abstentions (China, India, Japan and the Russian Federation).[1]

HRC/RES/48/13
UN Human Rights Council
  • The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment
CitationA/HRC/RES/48/13
Enacted byUN Human Rights Council
Enacted8 October 2021

UN General Assembly edit

The resolution in itself is not legally binding, but it "invites the United Nations General Assembly to consider the matter" (i.e. the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment).[1]

In 2022 during its 76th session, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.[6] Although General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, this resolution was welcomed by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet,[7] multiple special rapporteurs[8] and members of some civil society organizations.[9][10]

See also edit

 
Vote of the Human Rights Council on the related HRC/48/L.27

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "A/HRC/RES/48/13 - E - A/HRC/RES/48/13 -Desktop". undocs.org. Archived from the original on 2022-01-23. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  2. ^ "Annual Report 2021: Global upheaval deepened inequalities". OHCHR. 2022-06-14. Archived from the original on 2022-06-17. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  3. ^ Coplan, Karl S. (2021). Climate Change Law: An Introduction. Cheltenham, United Kingdom : Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 162. ISBN 978-1839101298.
  4. ^ "UNHRC Resolution recognising a Human Right to a Healthy Environment – GNHRE". Archived from the original on 2022-01-23. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  5. ^ "Access to a healthy environment, declared a human right by UN rights council". UN News. 2021-10-08. Archived from the original on 2021-10-09. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  6. ^ "General Assembly of the United Nations". www.un.org. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  7. ^ "Bachelet calls for urgent action to realize human right to healthy environment following recognition by UN General Assembly". OHCHR. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  8. ^ "UN General Assembly declares access to clean and healthy environment a universal human right". UN News. 2022-07-28. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  9. ^ "Franciscans International: News". franciscansinternational.org. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  10. ^ "VICTORY: UNGA Recognizes Right to a Healthy Environment For All". Center for International Environmental Law. Retrieved 2022-08-05.